A pilot was removed from a United Airlines flight from Austin to San Francisco on Saturday after using the plane’s PA system to vent about her recent divorce, Donald Trump, and Hillary Clinton. The A319 captain boarded United 455 late and...
Live and Let’s Fly Weekend Digest: February 11, 2017
Hello from beautiful Santa Barbara, California. Heidi and I love Santa Barbara (“Why didn’t we MOVE HERE instead of LA?!” is what I hear every time we come up for a weekend). But at least a great Hyatt is available...
Interest in Traveling to the USA is Plummeting
Is the U.S. on the verge of a “tourism shock”? One digital travel agency is claiming the answer is YES. Its analytics reveal the interest in traveling to the USA in 94 countries has fallen sharply since the Trump inauguration...
I Love the New United Propaganda Campaign!
We typically speak about propaganda in such negative terms, as if must encompass only misleading information used to promote a political cause. Sometimes propaganda is just biased or one-sided information that is not misleading, just used to highlight the good in something....
Comical Video: Two Lawyers Fight Over Armrest
Two passengers, both who claim to be lawyers (I have my doubts) were caught on video fighting over an armrest on a flight to Spain. Start with the video– This occurred on a Monarch Airways flight from London Gatwick to...
Review: Los Angeles to London in Air New Zealand 777-300 Business Premier
I’ve booked my parents on it, my brother on it, dozens of clients on it, but now it was my turn. For years I have been wanting to fly Air New Zealand from Los Angeles to London and a...
United CEO Reflects on Trump Meeting (and My Concerns)
Airline executives met with President Trump yesterday. You can read the sometimes humorous pool report here. Rather than focusing on the contentious travel ban, airline executives and the new Trump administration sought to find common ground. United CEO Oscar Munoz...
Two Great New Priority Pass Lounges, Including London Restaurant/Bar
Priority Pass adds and subtracts members from its 1000+ network of lounges each month. This month two notable additions are worth your attention: the Turkish Airlines lounge at Washington Dulles and the Grain Store Cafe & Bar inside London Gatwick Airport....
Why Starwood Points are Simultaneously the Most Valuable and the Most Worthless Points
Starwood Preferred Guest Starpoints are arguably the most valuable overall point currency. With a 1:1 transfer rate with a long list of airline partners plus a 5,000-point bonus for every 20,000 transferred, Starwood make trips possible that no other...
Three Easy Steps to Combat Jet Lag
This has been a heck of a travel week for me. I started in Los Angeles, traveled to Honolulu, then to San Francisco, then Frankfurt, and finally back to Los Angeles. But I’m not jet lagged. Here are three things...
TSA Admits It Likely Cannot Spot Terrorists
Internal documents reveal that the TSA’s behavior detection program aimed at rooting out terrorists is inherently flawed according to an ACLU report. The TSA’s behavior detection program utilizes specially-trained agents — some uniformed, some in plain clothes — to scope out signs...
Air France Adds Maldives Service
Air France is starting year-around service to the Male this fall, providing another option to use points to reach the Maldives. Per Routes Online, the outbound flight from Paris will operate on Wednesday and Saturday, returning on Thursday and Sunday...
Avoid the Veal: TP359 LHR-LIS in TAP Business
For this edition of Matthew’s Meal of the Week I look back on a meal on TAP Portugal from London to Portugal in December 2009. This was my first flight on TAP and seven years later I have yet...
Surprise Meal on United Proves Why Meals Don’t Matter
Not to beat a dead horse, but my United flight from San Francisco to Frankfurt yesterday demonstrates why economy class meal service likely has little effect on loyalty and negatively impacts revenue. I generally do not upgrade when flights are so...
Remorse & Resolve: Final Thoughts on a Month in Africa
My unexpected month in Africa will always be a two-edged sword: a treasured memory on the one hand and a painful and expensive exercise in futility on the other hand. Remember the purpose of this trip was to secure...
United Ground Delay Due to Computer Glitch
Another day, another IT glitch. United Airlines this time. Allegedly at 11:30p last night a faulty software update was loaded to a system that supplies flight planning data to pilots. Reports of delays throughout the country are filtering in on Flyertalk....
Pictures: Sexy New South African Airways A330-300 Business Class
Beleaguered South African Airways is taking delivery of five new A330-300 aircraft which will feature a refreshed business class cabin and new lie-flat seat. Check out the impressive pictures below. The A330-300 will feature Thompson Aero Vantage XL seats, similar...
My Rebuttal to View from the Wing: How Free Meals in Coach CUT Airline Profit
Earlier today I speculated on whether United and American would copy Delta in introducing free economy class meals on premium transcon routes. Gary had a different take on the issue. Now I get to respond! First, I hope it goes without saying that...
Review: Virgin Atlantic A340 Upper Class
There is mystique surrounding Virgin Atlantic, which I attribute to its superb advertising and marketing – including sexy tv spots, red uniforms, branding business class “Upper Class” and decking out its premium cabins with sparkling gold and classy walk-up...
Top 10 American Airlines Award Redemptions
After a substantial devaluation last March, American Airlines AAdvantage miles are not worth what they once were. Nevertheless, there are still sweet spots on the award chart (mostly premium cabin) that are worth taking advantage of. Here are my...
